You Siqi's suggestion was exactly what Liu Buli had intended to propose.
After all, as the author of this novel, You Siqi was the closest to the Heavenly Dao.
Whether it was innate circumstances or man-made situations, his guesses could often be quite accurate. Just like with this secret realm, if he chose a correct path according to his own ideas, it would most likely be the truly correct one.
Since he had conceived all the settings in the novel, even if he hadn't elaborated on every detail, the general direction would not be far off.
Both Liu Buli and You Siqi thought along these lines.
However, without a puppet, neither dared to let a living person test the waters.
Now that You Siqi had voiced his idea, Tan Wu naturally raised no objections.
Releasing his puppet again, Tan Wu followed You Siqi's instructions, controlling the puppet to walk on the ground like a human and advance step by step as directed. After walking twenty to thirty meters, no traps were triggered. The few of them exchanged glances and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and smile.
They followed behind the puppet, moving forward step by step. Although they occasionally triggered traps according to You Siqi's instructions, most of the time they passed safely. This situation was far better than their original plan of meticulously disarming every single trap.
When they finally reached the end and saw the wide, spacious hall ahead, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Shen Muzhi still turned to You Siqi for confirmation, asking, "We've reached this point, so there shouldn't be any more problems ahead, right? I mean, no more traps or anything like that?"
"No more. But what we need to consider next is something else..."
Before You Siqi could finish his explanation, a heart-wrenching scream echoed from the other end of the long passage they had just traversed.
Perhaps due to the length of the passage or its emptiness, it acted like a sound amplifying device, clearly transmitting the sounds from the other end to their location.
No explanation was needed; upon hearing the scream, everyone understood that a new batch of cultivators or members of the Ghost Clan had entered the cave filled with deadly traps.
During their passage, they had only disarmed a small portion of the traps. Most of them remained in place, and the unsuspecting newcomers who approached met the same fate as indicated by the scream.
However, after years of cultivation, the most ingrained lesson for most was indifference towards those deemed unimportant.
So, after exchanging glances, they pretended not to hear the screams and shifted their attention to the open hall before them. Facing the rows of doors emitting a faint glow, Shen Muzhi was the first to ask, "There are five doors. How should we choose? Should we go the same way, or split up?"
As soon as the question was out, Li Qingcheng raised her hand and said, "I want to go with you all. You know, my husband and I aren't very strong. If we split up, I think the risk would be too great for us. Staying by your side, you might even find ways for us to help, and we won't have to take the risk of exploring the unknown."
After all, when they entered this secret realm, the two of them had already made up their minds. Their sole purpose for this trip was to see the outside world and broaden their horizons. They had never intended to achieve immortality or sainthood through this secret realm. Therefore, in such a situation, safety had to come first.
Li Qingcheng's answer was within expectations.
The rest of the group nodded in agreement. However, Liu Buli seemed to be having trouble deciding.
After a moment of deliberation, he opted for his usual direct approach. He turned to You Siqi beside him and posed his question with his eyes.
Having known each other for so long, You Siqi understood Liu Buli's every gesture perfectly.
Without any hesitation, upon receiving Liu Buli's gaze, You Siqi responded proactively. He said, "If you're asking me about the specifics, I only know what's behind the middle door. I have no idea what's behind the other doors, and I'm sure you can understand that."
After all, in the novel, the protagonist took the middle path. Therefore, not only You Siqi, but even Liu Buli, as a reader, was well aware of the dangers and rewards that lay behind the middle door.
So, he waved his hand and said, "I'm not asking what you specifically know, but your guess. Do you think there are good things behind the other four doors?"
"There will definitely be good things, just in different directions. And for us, the middle door is the most suitable."
You Siqi answered readily.
And he was indeed correct.
The middle door, in the end, led to a cultivation technique. This technique was aimed at divine beasts, perfectly complementing Shen Muzhi's divine beast bloodline.
As for the other doors...
Liu Buli stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then asked again, "So, according to your thinking, the other doors, like the middle one, once entered, cannot be exited, and even if it's a dead end with nothing, there's no chance to choose again?"
"Indeed, there is only one chance to choose, but I can guarantee that it won't be a dead end," You Siqi explained earnestly. "Just as it was stated when this secret realm first appeared, it is a realm that can help one ascend to immortality and sainthood. And this cave is considered the core existence within the secret realm. So, in my opinion, everyone gets only one chance, and each passage will only offer an opportunity to one person. The end of the passage will provide the most suitable answer based on your choice. It's tailored to the individual, so no matter which of the remaining four passages you choose, the outcome, guided by fate, should be predetermined."
You Siqi's words were somewhat profound, but after a moment of thought, Liu Buli understood.
So, after some hesitation, he finally turned to those beside him. Then, with a look of struggle, he said, "In other words, to maximize our benefits, I should choose a different path from Wuming, is that what you mean?"